Counting scale



June 4, 1940. M. T. THoRssoN COUNTING SCALE Filed Nov. 9, 1937- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 s N @N w. m 20255 D @wk mwum s QN N s S 25N 22 STW e@ SNN.

SSN 2 3m IN1; s@

SSN Se. IW @EN Q22 J 2:3 v- N E Si INVENTOR MRNEY June 4, 1940. M T THORSSQN 2,203,002

COUNTING SCALE Filed Nov. 9. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO RN EY Patented June 4, 1940 2,203,002 coUN'rlNG. SCALE Matthew T. Thorsson, East Williston Park, Long Island, N. Y., assigner to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 9, 1937, Serial No. 173,569 6 Claims. (Cl. 265-29) This case relates to a counting scale of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,650,227.

The sensitivity of any weighing scale to an applied load is proportional to the ratio of the of the unit indicating line, is not at an advantageous angle to the chart line.

Accordingly, still another object is to permit the unit load to be multiplied to thereby move applied load to the total capacity of the scale. the unit indicator to a more advantageous angle .5 Thus, in weighing a small fraction of the total and to maintain the relation of the figures of the weight capacity, the indicating means will move chart to the unit indication the same by also a corresponding fraction of its total range and multiplying the movement of the chart. such movement will be less sensitive than a Further objects of the instant invention reside l@ larger movement would be for the same applied in any novel feature of construction or operation load. It has been known in a scale of a given or novel combination of parts present in the emtotal load capacity to prevlde vsupplementary bodiment of the invention described and shown weighing means for weighing a fractional part in the accompanying drawings whether within or of the total load capacity with greater sensitivity without the scope ofthe appended claims and 'l5 by effecting movement of the indicating means irrespective of other specific statements as to l5 for the fractional load multiplied with respect to the scope of the invention contained herein. the movement the indicating means would have In the drawings: if the same fractional load were applied through Fig. 1 is a front view of the scale. the main weighing mechanism. Fig. 2 shows fragments of the counting chart 220 One object of the present invention is to proand the unit indicator coacting therewith, and vide novel supplementary means supplementing Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the scale, the main weighing mechanism for weighing a showing the weighing mechanism. fractional increment of the total load capacity The scale has a main weighing mechanism of the main weighing mechanism. comprising a main load platform I0 acting on a5 The counting scale of the type disclosed in the one arm of a. iirst order lever Il, the opposite 25 aforesaid patent has a main weighing mechaarm of which is provided with a tare bar I2 outnism for moving a counting chart which has a. side the scale casing I3. Rigid withthe lever is an. graduated scale and iigures indicating the count. arm I (Fig. 3) inside the scale casing which has This chart is intersected by an indicator line a tape connection 2toamain pendulum assembly which is settable by hand or by a unit load 3 provided with an upwardly extending arm 4. 30 weighing mechanism to a reference position, and Pivotally carried by arm 4 is a balanced lever 5 the point of intersection indicates the figure to Which is pivotally connected by pins 6 (only be read from the chart. The value of the gradone is shown) to a frame 'l (see Figs. 2 and 3) nations of the chart is dependent on the moveto which the counting chart I4 is fixed. Ex-

ment of the main weighing scale for increments tending from frame 1 is a pin 8 which is spaced 35 of load and on the unit load to which a reference above the pin 6. Between these pins 6 and 8 position of the indicating line corresponds. As is stretched a guide wire 9. An arm 'I' extendthe unit load increases the graduation values ining from frame l carries, at its free end, a pair crease, making it more diicult to interpolate of vertically spaced pins 'la straddling guide wire 40 readings of the chart between graduations. 9. When a load is applied to the platform ID, 40

Accordingly, another object of the present inthe lever arm I rocks downwardly, acting vention is to decrease the value of a graduation through tape connection 2 to rock the main oi the chart by effecting a multiplied movement pendulum assembly clockwise, causing pointer of the chart for a given applied load. I5 to swing along the main weight indicating Further, in the counting scale of the aforesaid scale I6. As the pendulum assembly 3 rocks 45 type, the indicating line and the chart graduated clockwise, arm 4 thereof actuates balanced lever line intersect at an angle which is proportional 5 to move chart Il horizontally to the right. to the unit load acting on the indicating line. The chart is constrained to move rectilinearly, When the angle is too Small between the indimaintaining its vertical position, by engagement eating line and the chart line, the point of inof the pins 6 and 8 with guide wire 9 and by 50 tersection is less definitive than with a greater similar engagement of pins 1a with the wire. angle. The chart has several columns of figures Chart I4 has a central, vertical, graduated inbased on a unit load or reference position of the dex line Il" and six columns of figures, each indicating line. When the pieces to be counted headed by a lower scale I 4a of unit load figures are very light, the maximum angular position 50, 10, 2, etc. Below the chart columns 55 is a scale I1 of similar gures designating the value of each graduation for the` different 'columns.

The scale also has a unit load weighing mechanism comprising a hair line or indicating line I8 which may ybe manually set to an index or reference position by turning a knob I9 or may be automatically set by applying the unit load to the unit pan 20. The unit pan is carried by a parallelogram lever system 50 which is connected by a tape I to a unit scale pendulum assembly 52 which carries the supporting frame 53 of the hair line I8. When a load is applied to pan 20, the lever system 50 rocks counterclockwise, causing corresponding rocking of the pendulum assembly 52 and the hair line i8. The hair line may be set manually by turning of the knob I9 (Fig. 1). Rigid with the knob is a pinion 54 meshed with a rack bar 55. When the knob I9 is turned. it lowers the rack bar to cause the lower end thereof to engage the upper lever 50 and rock it to the same effect as though a load had been applied to unit pan 20. One actuated position of the hair line is indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. l and another in full line in Fig. 2. 'I'he weight of parts in the unit pan is indicated by hair line I8 along a lower scale 2i. With a unit load made up of fifty parts an unknown number of which have been applied to the main platform I0, the count of parts on the miain platform is indicated in the column headed by 50 of scale Ma and along a horizontal line extending through the point of the index line I4 intersected by hair line I8. Similarly, any other column may be used to indicate the count by placing the number of parts in the unit pan 20 designated by the heading in scale Ila of the column. When the intersected point lies between successive graduations of the index line I4', the observer is required to interpolate between the graduations. The interpolation is dependent on the value of each graduation denoted at the bottom in scale I1, of the column from which the count is read.

In operation, an unknown number of parts to be counted is applied to the main platform I0 and a unit quantity of the same parts applied to the unit pan 20. The chart I4 will be moved to the right to a position dependent on the aggregate Weight of the parts applied to the main platform and the hair line I8' will move to an angular position corresponding to the aggregate weight of the unit quantity of parts. At the intersection of the hair line I8 with the index line Il', the count of parts on the main platform will be given in. the column corresponding to the unit quantity of parts in the unit pan.

For further details of. the above described mechanisms, reference may be had to the aforementioned Patent No. 1,650,227.

When the aggregate weight of the unknown number of parts on main platform Iii is a small fraction of the total capacity of the main scale, chart I4 will move correspondingly a small amount. Also, sufiicient number of parts should be placed in unit pan 28 to move the hair line i8 to a substantial angle of intersection with the index line Il' of the chart. Should the parts hav ing a small aggregate weight be individually of very light weight, one hundred of such partsthe maximum permitted when the main load is placed on main platform Iii-may not loe sumcient to move the hair line l@ 4to a good reag angle. Also, since eachl graduation in the lull column has a high value ci.'l onehundred parts, the ditilculty of interpolation is increased with hair line I8 at a poorl angle of intersection and failing to provide a clearly definitive intersection point with index line Il. The dimculty of interpolation may be remedied either 4by increasing the angle of thev hair line I8 or by lowering the value of each graduation. Thus, if each graduation has a value of one hundred, a vari--k ation may be obtained by diiferent observers in interpolating the count which may amount to twenty-five or fifty parts. However, with the value of a graduation reduced one-tenth, for example, so that each graduation in the 100 column corresponds only to ten, the same variation will be reduced corresponding to one-tenth or two to live parts. With paris running in large numbers to an ounce, a variation oi' five parte corresponds to an insignificant percentage oi' variation from the exact count.

When the parts to be counted are of extremely light individual weight, a considerable number of such parts will have an aggregate weight amounting to a small fraction of the total capacity of the main Weighing mechanism. .Correspondingly, the unit quantity of such parts, placed in load pan 20 will move hair line Il to a small angle relative to the index line I4' of the chart. As indicated in Fig. l, the 0 to 1 lb. range of main weight scale is marked use small scoop. 'I'his informs the operator when a large quantity of parts on main platform I0 weighs less than one pound, that he should place the unknown quantity of pieces to be counted in small scoop 25.

Scoop 25 is suspended from one end of an extension 26 carried by one arm| of a lever 21. The lever 21 has elongated slots through which screws 28 freely pass to be threaded into extension 26. By loosening screws-28, extension 26 may be adjusted to locate scoop 25 at a predetermined distance from the fulcrum of lever 21, after which the screws are tightened to rigidly x the extension 26 and scoop 25 in position. Lever 21 has a knife edge 29 at the right hand end engaging the V-shaped bearing trough of a hook 30 connected to an adjustable hook 3| fastened rigidly but adjustably to a bracket 32 secured to the base 33 of the scale fraine. Knife edge 29 in coaction with the bearing portion of hook 30 defines the fulcrum of lever 21. To the left of knife edge 29, lever 21 has another knife edge 34y having bearing engagement with a hook 35 suspended by a pin 36. Pin. 36 is supported by the legs of a bifurcated block 31 rigidly secured to the bottom of main platform III.

The length of lever 21 between knife edge 34 and fulcrum 29 constitutes the power arm of the lever while the length of the lever between scoop 25 and the fulcrum constitutes the load arm of the lever. The lever ratio of the load arm to the power arm determines the power applied to platform I0 by the load in scoop 25. In the present case, the scoop is adjusted to provide a lever ratio of ten; that is, .the weight of a load in scoop 25, through lever 21, exerts ten times the force on platform I0, and is equivalent to placing ten times the same load directly on platform I0. Thus, with a normal total capacity of lbs., 1 lb. directly on main platform I0 will move the pointer I5 through one-tenth its total range and correspondingly move the chart I4 a fractional amount of its total range. By applying the l lb. directly to scoop 25, pointer 25 and chart I4 will move their entire total ranges. Accordingly, with the movements of the pointer and chart thus multiplied, the fractional load will be most sensitively and accurately measured. Thus, l oz. in scoop 25 will be measured as sensitively as 1 lb. on platform I0, whereas 1 oz. directly on platform I0 would be measured with a fractional degree of the sensitivity of the 1 lb. load. Similarly, multiples of 1 oz. up to 1 lb. in scoop 25 will be measured with the same degree of sensitivity as ten times the same load applied to the main platform. Coextensive with scale I6 is a scale I6' marked in a diiferent color and the graduations of which have one-tenth the value of scale I6. When using the scoop 25, the Weight in the scoop is measured by pointer I5 on scale I5'.

The chart I4 as well as the pointer I5 may be considered as measuring the load, although the chart I4 measures the load in terms of the count of parts in the load. Thus, for small fractional loads up to 1 lb., chart I4 will measure the count of parts more sensitively when the load of parts is placed in scoop 25 than when placed on platform I0.

In effect, the scoop 25 and lever 21 with the connections to the main weighing mechanism form an extension to the main Weighing mechanism enabling the latter to be converted into a scale of reduced capacity but with the same indicating range to thereby more sensitively respond to and indicate fractional weights.

In order to counterbalance the dead weight and the effect of the main scale extension parts (scoop 25, lever 2'I, and the elements carried by and connected to the lever), the left end of tare bar I2 is provided with a special threaded rod 40 carrying a pair of nuts 4I, adjusted to cause their combined weight acting through tare bar I2 to counteract the weight of the scale extension.

'Ihe provision of the supplementary small capacity weighing extension enables the scale to be used in several novel Ways. In one mode of operation, when the aggregate weight of a quantity of parts to be counted is less than 1 1b., and it is desired to obtain the count with the utmost degree of accuracy, the parts are placed in scoop 25. The weight of parts in scoop 25 will move chart I4 ten times as far as the same weight placed on platform I0. Accordingly, the figures and graduation values of the chart will have one-tenth their normal indicated value. Assuming one hundred parts are required in unit pan 20 to position hair line I 8 at a good intersecting angle to chart index line I4', the "100 column will give the count of parts in scoop 25. Suppose the intersecting point to lie midway between the lowest wide graduation and the next to lowest wide graduation of index line I4', that is between the graduation alined with "24500 and the one alined with 25000 in the 100 column, as indicated in Fig. 2. Each graduation now has a value of-l0 instead of 100, as indicated below the normal scale of graduations I1 by a supplementary scale I'I preferably marked in red. Thus, the figures in the 100 column are divided by ten, so that the count is between 2450 and 2500 pieces. By interpolation,

giving each graduation a value of 10, the count is obtained as 2475 pieces in unit pan 25. To better understand the advantages of this mode of operation, assume the same quantity of unknown number of parts to be taken from scoop 25 and placed on main platform I0. With one hundred such parts in unit pan 20, the hair line I8 will take the same angular position as in the previous example. However, chart I4 will have moved only one-tenth as far to the right, and the point of intersection will lie between the wide graduation alined with 2500 of the r100" column and the graduation directly above. With each graduation having its normal value of 100, the observer may interpolate the count as somewhere between 2400 and 2500 parts. Depending on the skill of the observer, he may variously interpolate the count as 2425, 2450, 2475, etc. But, in the previous case with the parts placed in scoop 25, the reading was definitely indicated as half way between 2450 and 2500, giving the observer no leeway for an incorrect interpolation of the count. In the second case with the parts on platform I0, the reading was indicated, at best, as somewhere near the 2500 point. It is evident that the latter indication is more dimcult of' accurate interpolation than when the indication is given with the parts placed in scoop 25 and the graduations having one-tenth their normal value. As the number of parts, 2475, is comparatively small, a variation in interpolation of twenty-five parts would amount to a substantial percentage of variation. 'I'his variation is avoided by placing the parts to be counted, when the aggregate weight thereof is less than 1 lb., in scoop 25 and giving the graduations of chart I4, one-tenth their normal value. Further, due to the fact that the weight of parts in scoop 25 will more sensitively and accurately position chart I4, the accuracy of reading of the count when the parts are in scoop 25 is further increased over the accuracy which may be obtained by placing the parts on platform I0.

A second mode of operation permitted by the provision of the main scale extension 25-21 will now be described. Assume the parts to be counted have an aggregate weight less than 1 1b., and that the individual parts are so light that one hundred oi' them in unit pan 20 will not move hair line I8 to a good intersecting and reading angle. With the parts to be counted placed on platform I 0 and one-hundred of these parts in unit pan 20,v the hair line I8 will make an acute angle with chart line I4' such as to render the point of intersection not denitive enough to enable interpolation to be eiected with the greatest degree of accuracy. In order to overcome this difllculty, the parts to be counted are placed in scoop 25. One result of this is to increase the sensitivity and accuracy of response of the counting chart I4 to the small aggregate weight-less than 1 lb.-of the parts to be counted` As another result of placing the parts to be counted in scoop 25, the operator may count out ten times the number of unit load parts normally indicated by the scale of figures 50, 10, etc. heading the chart columns and as indicated by the scale of figures 500, 100, 20, etc. preferably marked in red above the normal scale of unit quantity figures. Thus, since one hundred parts have not moved hair line I8 of the unit load scale to a fair angle of intersection with index line I4 of chart I4, the operator now may count out 200, 500, or 1000 parts into unit pan 20, thereby causing hair line I8 to move to a greater angle relative to chart index line I4'. Since the chart has moved ten times as far due to the application of the load to scoop 25 instead of to platform I0 and the number of parts in the unit pan has also been multiplied ten times, the count indicating rela.- tionship between the unit load scale and the main scale remains the same. Hence, the figures in the chart columns'now apply unchanged to the load in scoop 25, with each graduation having its normal value indicated by scale it. Due to the multiplied unit load quantity, hair line i8 will take a good reading angle and provide a definitive point of intersection with the chart index line Il', enabling the observer to accurately read and interpolate the count of parts in scoop 25.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and vsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. .It

is the intention, therefore, to loe limited only as' indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a scale for counting the number of units in a load;` a movable counting chart having graduations to indicate counts, a movable unit value indicator settable according to a unit value for coacting with said graduations to denote the count of units in the load, weighing mechanism connected to the chart, a main receiver carried by the weighing mechanism and to the load on which the weighing mechanism responds for moving the chart in a direction to bring graduations into correlation with said indicator for in-1 dicating the count of units in the load, with each graduation having a normal, count value. a sups plementary receiver to alternatively receive the load, and means connecting the supplementary receiver to the Weighing mechanism to effect automatic response of the latter for 4moving the chart in the aforesaid direction under the innuence of the load when applied to the latter receiver, in predetermined multiple ratio to movement of the chart under the inuence of the load when applied to the main receiver, for bringing chart graduations into count indicating relation to the unit value indicator` and with each graduation having a count indicating value which is a fraction of the normal count indicating value equal to the reciprocal of the aforesaid. multiple ratio of chart movement.

2. In a scale for counting the number oi units in a load, a movable counting chart with count indicating graduations, a. movable unit value indicator settable according to a normal unit value for coacting with said graduations to indicate the count of units in the load, weighing mechanism connected to the chart, a main receiver carried by the Weighing mechanism and-to the load on which the weighing mechanism responds to move the chart in a directionto bring graduations thereof into coaction with said unit value indi.- cator for indicating the count of units in the load, a supplementary receiver to alternatively receive the load, and means connecting the supplementary receiver to the weighing mechanism to eiect automatic response of the latter for moving the chart in the aforesaid direction under the iniluence of the load when applied to the latter receiver, in predetermined multiple ratio to movement of the chart under the iniiuence of the load when applied to the main receiver, ior bringing the same graduations into correlation with the unit value indicator when the latter is set acm aaoaooa cording to a unit value which is a multiple of the normal unit value equal to the aforesaid multiple ratio of movement of the chart.

3. In a scale; movable load responsive means, a main load platform connected to the load responsive means to cause movement of the latter according to the magnitude of the load on the main platform, a supplementary platform for alternatively receiving the load, and force-multiplying connections directly between the supplementary platform 4and the main platform removed from and free-of the load receiving area. of the main platform for acting directly through the latter to eifect movement of the load responsive means in response to the load on. the supplementary platform in multiplied ratio to the response of said means to the same load 'when applied to the main platform, both platforms being free to alternatively receive the load while said power-multiplying connections remain in place. y

4. lin a scale; movable load measuring means, a main load platform connected to the measuring means to cause movement of the latter according to the load on the main platform, a supplementary load receiver, and lever means carrying the latter receiver and having a direct pull connection with and dependent from the bottom of the main platform leaving the latter constantly free to receive a load, and said lever means having its force receiving and force transmitting sections proportioned to provide force-multiplying connection from the supplementary load receiver to the main platform for acting directly through the latter to effect movement of the measuring means in response to the load, when on the supplementary receiver, in multiple ratio to the response of the measuring means to the same load when on the main platform.

5. In a scale; movable load measuring means, a main platform on top of which a load may be applied and connected to the measuring means to cause movement of the latter according to the load, a supplementary load receiver, and a lever carrying the latter receiver and having aportion passing below the platform and hung from the bottom of said platform, leaving the top oi the latter freely exposed to receive loads, and the moment arm on said lever of the supplementary receiver being a multiple oi the moment arm of the hanging connection to cause the load when on the supplementary receiver to act through the platform in multiplied force ratio on the measuring means.

d. ln a scale; movable load measuring means, a main platform structure on top of which a load may be applied and connected to the measuring meansto cause movement of the latter according to the load, a supplementary load receiver and a lever system supporting the latter receiver and including a lever provided with a portion passing below the main platform structure and hung dlrectly from said platform structure so as to leave the top thereof freely exposed to receive loads, and the ratio of the lever system being such as to cause the load `when on the supplementary receiver to act through the platform in multiplied iorce ratio on the measuring means. 

